Chapter 136

Ian looked at the young Quelan boy at put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"I have heard from Yarmod what he and Nori Thai have asked you, Lorann. Are you sure you can make another drawing of Ribana from above. It's been some time since you have seen what Ribana looked like while Yarnick Grann took you on that flight."

"Oh, master Kenobi, it's not that difficult. Look I already have made a new drawing of it. I only need to have a careful look at all the details and make changes. I also can now add color to the drawing, for the drawing pad I've got makes it very easy to make the drawing even better."

Lorann handed Ian the new drawing he had made of the overview of Ribana. Ian looked at it in amazement. The drawing was so detailed that it looked as if a space ship was hovering above the town. What this young Force-user could do was out of the ordinary. What a great challenge it would be to make him a Jedi Knight and teach him all he had learned himself from Leia.

"It's not yet finished, master Kenobi, therefore I want to work on it today, so I can finish it and ask master Kamalin to make contact with master Thai to send a copy to Myr." Lorann said apologizing.

"If my friend would have ask me to produce a drawing of Ribana from above, I would send him this one already, Lorann. I can't see what more is needed." Ian said with a smile, "but I lack your talent, Lorann."

"Master Kenobi, you have a much greater talent than I have. You can cure people, that's something I can't do." Lorann said in admiration.

Ian smiled and nodded.

"So we both have a specific talent, Lorann. Well, I leave you to join master Antilles and Chati. We see you later."

"Will you apologize me, master Kenobi, for I think they will be disappointed."

"I will tell them what important assignment you are working on for master Thai." Ian said and left Lorann's room.

He walked down the stairs to the main hall and went over to the many drawings Lorann had made of the restored houses in Ribna. Wedge and Chati were standing in front of the double drawing of the vineyard building, but Ian noticed that a third drawing had been put next to it. It was a colorful drawing of the vineyard building fully restored. Chati pointed to some of the details.

"There was my room, master, next to Talann's room. I've heard that Shaayla-Car is now using Talann's room as guest room, when she stay with my mother and my aunt." She said and looked at bit closer a very small detail. She looked again and then turned to Wedge.

"Master, look, I don't believe this. Look at that window in the front door." She said and pointed to the two main doors of the building. "Do you also see, that the window is broken?"

Wedge looked at the spot Chati indicated. He nodded.

"You're right, Chati, that windows looked as if it's broken. What about it?"

Chati looked at him in amazement, while she shook her head.

"How does he know, master? Yes, that window once was broken because Dolan, my cousin, Talann and me were throwing cloths of wet earth at each other. That was a fun game, not that my mother and my aunt agreed, but when it was hot it felt refreshing when a such a wet cloth hits you, but when I threw a cloth to Dolan he ducked and the cloth hits the window. However, I hadn't picked up a cloth of wet earth, but a small stone. It hit the window with force and cracked the glass. My father was enraged and I had to work in the vineyard pruning the grapevines for the rest of the season."

"So the window was broken?" Wedge asked.

"Yes, master, but my father had it replaced and when we had to flee Ribana it was undamaged." Chati said. "Master, Lorann was four years old. I was twelve when we fled. Dolan was fourteen and Talann ten. I broke that window when I was ten, when Lorann was a baby boy of two years old. How can he know that I made that crack in the window?"

"You have talked with Lorann about the vineyard building, Chati, and what it looked like while you were living there." Wedge said.

"Yes, master, I didn't, but I didn't tell him that I broke the window in the door." Chati said.

Wedge smiled.

"Could it be, Chati, that you have thought about that broken window, while you were talking with Lorann about the vineyard building?" He asked.

"I ... can ... remember, master, but it surely is possible, for I remember all to clearly my father's reproach." She answered pensively, "but if I did, master, than Lorann has notice what I was thinking about."

Wedge looked at Ian and both Jedi Knight nodded imperceptibly.

"That could be, Chati, for Lorann is a Force-user just like you," Wedge said.

"But I don't know what others are thinking, master," Chati said.

"You will learn, Chati, but you already can make use of Jedi telepathy when communicating with Tama-Hin and me, and with Oltomyran, so you possess a very specific talent yourself." Wedge said and turned to Ian.

"Where is Lorann, Tama-Hin?"

"I have to apologize on behalf of him, Wedge. He has an important assignment from Nori Thai and he wanted to work and finish that first." Ian answered.

"Then we're going to meet our Uram friend without him," Wedge said, looking at his padawan who seemed disappointed.

"You can feed the young Uram which Lorann's special friend and give some extra nuts, while you tell it that Lorann will come back, after he had finished his work. Let's go," Wedge said and he gently pushed Chati, who cast another amazed look at the drawing of the vineyard, to the exit.

Yarnick and his five brothers looked gleefully at Mugin, Woldrin and Leia. He handed Mugin a flat heavily sealed box.

"In this box are the remaining credits, after the space fleet and the submarine fleet on Dalmaran have bought the first container with aludium crystals, governor. My brothers and I have used about have of the proceeds of the sale to buy as much as specific materials which the Quelans can use to make new furniture. There is woods, fabrics and all kind of filling materials, nails, screws and all that is further necessary. The items your brother and you wanted us to buy are also in the cargo hold. Those goods are a gift from the government of the New Republic, including some big sacks of seeds and about forty containers with seedling to help the farmer around Ribana with their business. The Supreme Chancellor lets you know that if other items are failing you can give us another list and we will get it for you.

Mugin carefully opened the sealed box and looked amazed at the foil sheet which accurately named all the items the six brothers had bought from the proceeds of the crystals. Mugin handed Woldrin the foil sheet and pointed at the figures at the bottom, then he looked up at Yarnick and Conor.

"Do I read it right, master Yarnick. Are there nine hundred thousand credit left after you sold the crystals, but I also see on this sheet that you have bought for more than a million credits materials which we can distribute among the Quelans to make new furniture and other things."

Conor grinned and activated the datapad he was carrying.

"The two fleets have paid two million and two hundred thousand credits for the container you have handed us in consignment, governor. It's indeed much more than I estimated." Conor said.

Mugin looked questioningly at Conor.

"That means you've got about seven hundred thousand more than you expected." He said aghast.

"Governor, not we, but the Quelans of Ribana got seven hundred thousand more credits than my brother estimated," Yarnick said. "I should say, governor, that you will carefully make inventory lists of what more is needed."

"Nine hundred thousand credits are in this box?" Mugin said and looked amazed at its content. "Master Yarnick, my brother and I could build another cabin with that amount and have it lavishly furnished, like we built on Palomintar Four, but we will use this amount to benefit our community. Did you take your own profit after you've sold those crystals?"

"We did, governor, but we have lowered the amount of credits as our profit to half of what we have agreed with you. The other half of our original share has to be used to serve this community," Yarnick said. "We have had an extensive consultation with the New Republic's government. They told us that they always need a lot of aludium crystals to make the transparisteel screens for their space fleet and the governor of the Dalmaranians in Ver'izon told use the transparisteel windows are used in their hug submarine fleet."

Woldrin looked worried.

"Did you tell them you could provide more crystals?" He asked.

"Absolutely not, master Woldrin. We have agreed that my brothers and I would only sell this container and never mention the other the Quelans possess. If in the future the Quelan community needs more credits there is always a possibility to contact one of those governments. The advantage of doing business with government is that no manufacturer is involved. In this case only general Madine, master Sorjon Tyloban and the Supreme Chancellor know the origin of these crystals. The government at Irithim has made contact with the leader of the Dalmaranians and made them an offer to buy the crystals without telling where they come from." Yarnick said and turned to Leia. He took a sealed data card from his breast pocket.

The Supreme Chancellor has asked me to give this to you, Leia. I must say that it contained highly classified data, but she was sure that you know what to do, after you have read the content. Governor, master Woldrin, if you don't mind, Conor and I want to go back to the Grannd Traveler and help our brother unloading the cargo hold. I understand that a special tent has been allocated to store everything."

"I come back with you, Yarnick, for I want to get back to the Falcon." Leia said and greeted the two Quelan leaders.

Mugin and Woldrin watched them go and looked at each other.

Woldrin, I never could have imagined that the occupation of Ribana would turn out this way. We'd better store these credits in the vault of the administration building." Mugin said. "I will inform Toallin on Myr this unbelievable outcome.

Kamalin entered the room where Lorann was always making his drawings.

"Time to stop, young man. You're coming home with me. Can I have a look of what you've done? Did you manage to make that new drawing master Thai and Jedi Knight Martan asked for?" He asked.

"Yes, master Kamalin, look. This is how Ribana look from above? You, probably, never has seen it this way, but I have and it was so amazing. This drawing is even better than the one I have made on the foil sheet master Conor gave me. Now, that I have this great drawing pad I can draw and add details what ever I want. It's storage is almost unlimited." Lorann said and showed his schoolmaster the drawing of Ribana.

Kamalin looked at it for a long time, letting his eyes wander over the many details Lorann had added using the color sets he had available. Al the time he held his hand on the shoulder of his talented student.

"Excellent, Lorann. This certainly is what master Martan and master Thai want. Are you satisfied with the result?" Kamalin asked, already knowing what Lorann would answered.

"Not really, master Kamalin, I could a lot more details I have seen." He said.

"Lorann, you must learn when you have to stop your amendments and ask yourself if your drawing serve its goal," Kamalin said.

Lorann looked up at his schoolmaster and started to laugh.

"I could add numerous details to this drawing, master Kamalin, but that wouldn't give it more value to what master Martan and master Thai want. I can use this drawing and add more details just for myself, for I love what I once have seen." He said with a radiant look in his eyes.

Kamalin laughed and patted the young Quelan boy affectionately on his head.

"Shall we then call, master Thai and tell him that he can expect a copy? For you will keep the original."

"Let's do that, master Kamalin, can you teach me how to make contact with the other continent." Lorann said elated.

"I will teach you to make contact and how to send a copy of your drawing to the receiver. Come with me."

Kamalin took Lorann to the communication room next to the governor's office. He activated the system and showed Lorann how he had to send the code to make contact with the comsystem on Myr. Lorann typed the code and activated it. Together with Kamalin he waited for the system on Myr to answer. Within a few minutes Nori Thai's holo image popped up on the display in front of Lorann. Amazed Lorann looked at the holographic image.

"Hello, Lorann, you want to tell me something," Nori asked.

Lorann looked still mesmerized at Nori's image, but when Kamalin touched his shoulder he nodded.

"Yes, master Thai, I have made the drawing you and master Martan need. Master Kamalin is going to help me to send a copy of it to Myr," He said and looked at Kamalin who pointed at the drawing pad.

"Connect your drawing pad with that slot, Loran. Now search for the drawing on it and press 'connect'"

Lorann meticulously did what Kamalin instructed.

"Now ask master Thai if he sees your drawing pad." Kamalin said.

"Master Thai, I have connected my drawing pad to the system on Myr, do you see it?" Lorann asked.

"I do, Lorann. Now, look at your drawing pad. Do you see in the upper right corner a small icon that looks a flying bird."

Lorann looked and got a fit of laughter.

"Master Thai, is that bird going to bring the copy of my drawing? I could have ask my Uram friend to fly to Myr and bring it to you." He said still laughing.

"Lorann, the icon on your drawing pad is an ancient symbol of how in the past people and other species used birds to inform each other of important events. Now touch that bird icon."

Loran did what Nori said and saw to his amazement that the bird began to flap with its wings. He kept looking at it until it stopped again.

"Well done, Lorann. A copy of your drawing has been transferred to the comsystem on Myr. Now I can transfer it to a foil sheet which Yarmod and I can use to mark the houses and plots which have been restored. We can make a second transfer on which we can mark the houses which are still deteriorated. Thank you, Lorann. I already had a first look on your drawing and I'm amazed with the result. Excellent work, young man. Now you can disconnect your drawing pad and closed our connection. I'm looking forward to tell you what Yarmod and I have done."

The holo image of Nori Thai vanished. Kamalin told Loran how to disconnect his drawing pad and to deactivate the comsystem. He took the talented young Quelan back to the room where Lorann carefully put the deactivated drawing pad in a small secure closet.

"And now, Lorann Radilan, we're going home. I'm getting hungry, so it's time to prepare a good meal."

"I'll help you, master Kamalin. I always help my grandfather when we're preparing our meals together. I hope, master Kamalin, that my grandfather will come back to Cantamaga, for I want to show him all the drawings I have made with the drawing pad master Skywalker has given me."

Kamalin and Lorann left the administration building and head for the school building where Kamalin lived.

Manall looked at Luke and Liane as they entered the harvester's tent. He rose and walked over to them, gently he put his hands on their shoulders.

"We'd better talk somewhere more private. My tent is on the small side, but at least we don't have to fear eavesdroppers." He said friendly and with a big smile.

The three of them went over to Manall's tent which stood at some distance of the seven main harvester's tents. Manall made and inviting gesture and gently pushed his Jedi friends inside.

"I only use this for sleeping, most of the times I'm busy investigating what needs to be done once the harvest men's families will come to Myr. I already have spoken with governor Mugin and the vice-chair of the Council of the Elders and I made an agreement that the harvest men's families will form a fourth group which would move to Ribana. I'm aware that this might have some impact on your wedding plans, but I assure you that the fourth group only have to move in and won't do repairs, as that will be done the harvest men's themselves when the third group will do their repairs and clean up."

Luke and Liane sat down on a stack of nagawa fleeces, while Manall sat himself on the edge of his sleeping place. He looked at them gleefully.

"I know, why you're here, and I'm glad that my grandsons have given you their trust to reveal to me, what they have told you."

"We understand that Filann and Cemall have also had a good conversation with you, master Manall," Liane said.

"I had, Shaayla-Car, and you have my thanks for being so concerned about Cemall and sharing your concern with master Skywalker. We will talk about what my grandsons have confided to you, later, for first I want to tell you what has happened years ago, when I recall the event must have been between twenty three or twenty eight years ago. Master Skywalker how old are you, if I may ask?"

"I'm thirty years old, master Manall," Luke answered somewhat astonished.

"And what's your age, Shaayla-Car, although I know its's very impolite to ask a woman after her age." Manall said with an apologizing smile.

"I'm twenty-four, master Manall," Liane answered.

Manall nodded and looked at his two visitors, but seemed to be thinking at something else, but after some minutes he paid attention to them again.

"I was in my thirties when, what I want to tell you, happened."

The old harvest man pulled up his legs and sat cross-legged on his sleeping spot.

"You're already very familiar with my relationship with your father, Shaayla-Car, and your father, master Skywalker. Both have visited Palomintar Four several times, not frequently, more irregularly to say. They came unexpected, stay only for a short while, and left again. They told me what was going on on many of the systems in the galaxy. I understood that it was a very turbulent time, for my two friends were often involved in many battles, whee they were the leading an army of fierce soldiers.

The war in which my friends were involved dragged on, but it suddenly ended very unexpectedly, and with the end of the war also ended the visits of my two friends to me. Shaayla-Car, I have always sensed that your father had survived that war time."

"You also told me, that at in a later period you felt my father's passing as he became a Force ghost, master Manall," Liane said calmly.

"Yes, but between the end of the war and the moment I felt I've lost my good friend about twenty years passed." Manall said.

"Nineteen years, master Manall," Luke said.

"Nineteen years? Are you sure, master Skywalker?"

"I have witnessed how Obi-Wan became one with the Force during a battle with his opponent Darth Vader on the Death Star," Luke said.

A deep silence lasted for several minutes.

"Darth Vader defeated my good friend, master Skywalker, and you saw what happened? Painful, very painful indeed," Manall commented thoughtfully and looked at Liane.

"You're six years younger than master Skywalker, Shaayla-Car, so you were ... "

"Thirteen, master Manall. I was living on Morantan at a stronghold of Darth Vader who I assumed was my father." Liane said.

"You, master Skywalker were nineteen, and Shaayla-Car was thirteen when I no longer sensed Obi-Wan Kenobi," Manall said.

Luke and Liane didn't want to interrupt the train of thoughts of the harvest man and watched their host in silence. Manall turned to Luke.

"Master Skywalker, your father, Anakin Skywalker was Obi-Wan's friend. Two great Jedi Knights who were like brothers, always working together, always defending each other during the war period.

After the war I have never heard anything about Anakin Skywalker. I never sensed his presence and although I knew that his friend Obi-Wan was alive I have never heard anything about what could have happened to Anakin Skywalker."

Liane immediately surrounded Luke and Manall with more comforting feelings to ease the painful thoughts of both of them. Luke pressed her hand and Manall looked up and smiled.

"I'm alright, Shaayla-Car," He said and turned to Luke.

"Master Skywalker, after I didn't sensed my old friend any longer, I saw an illegal transmission on the holo net. The transmission was of low quality and the images were often blurred and unstable, but it was the only information I've got for a long time about what was going on in the galaxy. I saw a younger you and also general Solo, his Wookiee friend and master Leia. You and the general were honored, for you had blown that menacing Death Star. Here on Ribana we cheered, for that Death Star, an imperial weapon drifting in space, has been looming above Palomintar Four."

"Chati and her mother have told me about it. Chati was six, she told me. The Battle of Yavin which marked the end of the first Death Star was eleven years ago. Chati is now an twenty year old adult Quelan woman, so about three years before the Battle of Yavin the Death Star has been observing in Palomintar System," Luke concluded.

Manall nodded.

"And I know why, master Skywalker, for now I come to the event I wanted to tell you, because I feel that you can tell me more." Manall said and he shifted in his seat. "Not long after that menacing looming moon-size weapon of the Empire has been in the neighborhood of this system, a group of imperial technician landed on Myr.

They didn't bother our community, but head for the mountain ridge. After some weeks they returned to their transport ship at the western plains and left, but after a month a much larger group of men in white armor who were guarding an even greater group of workers landed on the western plains and also headed for the mountain.

Some high-ranking imperial officers told our community to keep calm, but several squadrons of those men in white armor closed off Ribana, so we couldn't find out what was going on. Some of the harvest men made a daring effort during the night to cross the dry riverbed and find out what was going on the western plains, because we became aware that those workers were often carrying containers full of rocks to the space ships with which they had arrived. The occupation went on for several months and we all became very worried as a next group of workers arrived.

The governors at that time, some members of the Council of Elders and I, as the leader of the harvest men, send a delegation to the imperial officers who had occupied several spaces of the administration building in Ribana as their offices.

I was the spokesman of the delegation. The imperial officers received us harsh and unfriendly and made it clear that what was happening in the mountains was in the interest of the Empire, for scientists in the service of the Empire had found value crystals in their initial research, and the Empire needed them. The workers were busy mining those crystals, and our community should not try to interfere in anything, otherwise everyone would be deported. The message was clear and as our community wasn't able to form some resistance against the threats those imperials had ushered, I advised our leaders that we shouldn't get involved in what was going on. For several months the mining of the rock with the crystals went on, when on day an imperial space ship landed at the main plaza of Ribana. The imperial officers all rushed out of the administration building and a group of men in white armor formed a protecting shield around the imperial ship. The ramp came down and an strange looking person clad in black armor and with a breathing mask and a fluttering black cape walked over the imperial officers. What they had discussed I can't tell, but the black armored officer didn't seemed pleased with what the officers told him.

One of the imperial officers came to the harvest men's community building at the foothills and summoned me to come with him, for his superior wanted a word with me about our protest. Anxiously, I followed the imperial officer and I was led into the control room of the ship where the man in the black armor with black cape asked me why my fellow tribe's men were objecting against the mining of the crystals which were essential ores for the Empire. He spoke to me through the voice translator on a menacing tone.

I answered submissively that our community wouldn't protest and had accepted the presence of the mining workers.

And then, master Skywalker, something very odd happened. The in black armor clad man kept looking at me through the optical eye lenses in his mask and then he stretched out his hand for a short moment as if he wanted to shake hands with me, but he immediately withdrew his hand. He turned to the group of imperial officers and snarled at them that all activities had to be stopped immediately.

The officers began to protest and the highest-ranking among them addressed the man in black armor as Lord Vader. He tried to explain that the crystals were vital to the Empire and that the Emperor wouldn't be pleased if they would give up the work.

All the time during that conversation I was present, trying to keep a very low profile in a corner.

The man in the black armor got angry after the officer's protest. I saw him raising a hand and the officer grabbed his throat. He skin colored became bluish and his eyes bulged. I want to scream that the man should stop using the Force on a human that way, but my voice seemed to stop in my throat. Luckily the man in black armor released the officer who collapsed on the couch.

The other officer told the man in black armor they would carry out the order immediately and they all rushed away and probably left the ship. Finally also the attacked officer came to. He saluted and said: 'It will be done, as you ordered, Lord Vader.'

The man in the black armor looked at him: 'Very well, officer, and no other attempt will be ever made on this planet to mine those crystals. This planet is forbidden territory to all imperial forces. I will inform the Emperor personally of my decision.'

After the last officer also has left he turned to me as, if he still knew I had witnessed the conversation. I fear I had heard a command which certainly hadn't been meant for me, but again he looked at me and he even made several steps closer to me. Then he said: 'Go back to your community, and tell them what I have ordered. Don't fear any occupation in the future for this planet will not be visited again by imperial forces. The aludium crystals on this planet will be yours.'

He made a gesture with a gloved hand indicating that I could leave.

Dazed I left the ship and went back to Ribana where I told the governors and the Council of the Elders what the man in black armor had told me.

We all looked very skeptical, but already the next day we saw how the army of white men and the workers were packing all their equipment and went over to western plains. At the end of that day every space ship had left, except for the special ship that still stood on the main plaza. The following day also the main plaza was empty.

Master Skywalker, my dear Shaayla-Car, you both mentioned the name of Darth Vader. He has defeated my old friend Obi-Wan and on Morantan he was the one you assumed to be your father. I'm sure now, that you can tell me more, for, master Skywalker, I have recognized the space ship you are flying. The Astræga was the space ship that landed at the main plaza in Ribana, being probably the private ship of that man in black armor, Darth Vader.

You've told me, that after the Civil War ended you acquired the ship as a gift for your commitment in ending the war against the Empire. Did you know that the Astræga once was the private shuttle of Darth Vader?"

"That's why you called it a dangerous gift, right, master Manall? Yes, I knew it had been my father's private shuttle, master Manall," Luke said and looked at the harvest man with grateful look in his eyes. "Thank you, for telling me what has happened on Palomintar Four years before I met my father on Bespin, before I became a fully-fledged Jedi Knight.

I met him again on Endor when he took me to the second Death Star where I was supposed to become the Emperor's next Dark Side apprentice.

Your long story confirms once again that there always has been good in my father. He never has abandoned the Good Side of the Force. I know that it's difficult for you to realize that Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker, the young Jedi Knight who once promised you to take you as his padawan learner are once and the same person.

Master Manall, when Darth Vader landed his ship in Ribana and met you, he has surely recognized you and that's why he commanded those imperial force to abandon their mining of aludium crystals immediately. You recognized Astræga, the moment you entered the control room, where long ago you met with the menacing person my father had become, living for years imprisoned in the black life support armor which was keeping him alive. It was the emperor who had him encased in that black armor for Emperor Palpatine knew the strength and the value of the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker had been.

As the emperor's assistant and second-in-command my father has used his Force skills at the Dark Side of Force. It brought him ultimate power over all persons and species he met, except for one thing: in his strive for control over life and death he lost all who had been dear to him. He lost his mother Shmi, my grandmother. He lost his wife Padmé Naberrie Skywalker who died in childbirth. He lost his friend Obi-Wan Kenobi who became one with the Force on the Death Star.

All the years after my birth and that of my sister his menacing reign of terror on many systems has caused the deaths of thousands of species; humans, humanoids and many others.

Obi-Wan has fought Anakin on the lava planet of Mustafar and defeated him, when Anakin fell into a molten lava pit, but what remained of Anakin Skywalker was kept alive with all the hatred he felt in that life support system.

Both my Jedi masters, Obi-Wan and master Yoda were convinced that my father couldn't be turned, couldn't renounce the Dark Side and become a Jedi Knight again. They were wrong, for a spark of goodness - you have told me yourself what a good man my father was in your contacts with him - always was kept alive in the man who had been trapped in the dark black armor which was he only way to stay alive.

He took the daughter of Severini Solichor with him and adopted her as his daughter: Liane Solichor or Shaayla-Car as her mother named her. He also prevented that the continent of Myr would be come a mining site for aludium crystals, and on the second Death Star he saved my life and destroyed the menace emperor Palpatine symbolized.

He died in my arms, after he had renounced the Dark Side and became a Force ghost who I have often met and who is one of my Force ghost advisors, " Luke said and took Liane's hand in his, seeking her comforting feelings to reassure him.

Manall looked at the two Jedi Knights.

"My narrative have caused many uncomforting feelings, master Skywalker. I have to apologize to you." He said.

"You don't have to, master Manall. I'm all too happy with what you have told me for it again confirms that my father Anakin was once a good man, a real Jedi Knight who wanted to serve this galaxy with his skills.

The occupation of Naboo, the death of his mother caused by the Tusken Raiders of Tatooine, his secret marriage with Padmé, the Clone War, made him prone to the machinations of Emperor Palpatine, Darth Sidious who seduced him to become a follower of the Dark Side of the Force, telling Anakin that the Dark Side would give him ultimate power and control.

When governor Toallin told you about the aludium crystals that had been surfaced while your men were working on the water project you were alerted. And rightly so, for aludium crystals are rare, and the leaders of the Quelan community have to take care that discovery of these crystals will be kept secret. It's good that my friend Yarnick and his brothers have taken on the task to be the intermediate traders between the Quelan community on Palomintar and possible buyers. I cannot emphasize enough that no other dealer must become aware of this find. I have heard that they have sold the first container to the governments of the New Republic, that's reassuring, for doing business with other leading bodies might ensured that no greedy buying will invaded this planet again, but vigilance remains necessary."

"I will tell them what you have said, master Skywalker, for I fully agree with you," Manall said, looking worried, before he turned to Liane.

"And you were raise by Darth Vader, Shaayla-Car."

"Yes, when I was seven year old, he became my most important instructor. He taught to use the Force from his point of view: the Dark Side."

"Is that why Kamalin had a separated meeting with you after you had arrived on Tyr."

"Yes, master Manall, and I remember how annoyed you were, because you saw me as the daughter of Obi-Wan, your old friend," Liane said.

"Did Darth Vader taught you much of the Dark Side?"

"He has often tried to persuade me to embrace the Dark Side, but I've always have sensed the evil in his teachings, not that I have never made use of what he has taught me, but the use of the Dark Side always frightened me. Luke is sure that it's my mother's influence that has prevented me to become a real Dark Force user, but since I know that Obi-Wan 'Ben' Kenobi is my father it probably has been the influence of both my parents. " Liane said.

Manall looked at her and at Luke.

"It's been very remarkable what I've heard, master Skywalker,"

"It's been very remarkable what you've told us, master Manall, will you please call me Luke, just as you call Shaayla-Car with her first name."

"A great honor, Luke.

I have to be honest to you, Luke. I didn't really feel the need to talk with you about the problems of my grandsons. I know what they have told you, for they have told me more or less the same in the confidential chat I have had with both of them.

I know that Filann's marriage is failing, because Sumall the seventeen year old daughter of my friend Phhinn, still refuses to sleep with my grandson, because she seems to have fallen in love with Cemall who detest her, because he fears that if Filann's marriage is canceled, he will be forced to take her as his wife. He will never do that and I will take care it won't happen, just like I will take care of the cancellation of Filann's marriage.

I will not only do this, because those to troublesome hotheads are my grandsons, but because the rule that a adult harvest Quelan boy should be forced to marry an underage harvest Quelan girl at the age of fifteen, because the two father has arranged it, needs to be changed.

This is one of the changes I have on my sleeve, another one is the housing of the harvest families. No longer will they live separate from the Quelans who are living in Ribana. The harvest families are Quelans too. I want them to form one community with the Quelans of Ribana, and my friend Yarmod Martan and master Nori Thai have made me aware of a great opportunity to realize what I have in mind."

Luke and Liane looked at Manall understandingly.

"You want the houses that once belonged to Quelan families of Ribana who perished during the years Trevor occupied Ribana, to be used by the harvester families. Master Manall, if your plan succeeds that will also set your other plan about the abandonment of forced marriages in motion." Liane said. "If you succeed, Cemall shouldn't fear a forced marriage with Sumall, for itthat would make him as unhappy as his brother Filann."

"And it will give many young Quelan boys and girls, whether they are born in harvest families or in a family in Ribana the possibility to become friends with one another and find a more like-minded partner to marry. I already have the support of the governors and the Council of the Elders for they too have noticed the discontent under the adult young harvest boys. " Manall added.

"Doesn't the Harvest Council have a voice on this matter, master Manall," Luke asked.

"Yes, most certainly, but this hearing will be less direct than when the hearing you have been involved in. As the harvest men's leader I am also the chair of the Harvest Council. I have to summoned six other harvest men and put the changes I want before them. They can summon other harvest men, or family, or young adult boys and girls to hear. As the chair of the Council I have a deciding vote and I will stand my ground. For years I have watched what was going on in the harvest families, for years I have noticed what went wrong and now I have a new mandate and I'm going to use it to favor the younger generation of boy and girls who are born in harvester families, but who should be free to make their own choices, not only concerning the one they want to marry, but also to shape a future which is different from what formerly has been accepted."

"Lorann?" Luke asked.

"One of them, but also Chati Fonaldris, although this adult young Quelan woman have taken the matter in her own hands. But I'm sure that there are more Quelans who want to live a different life, maybe more adventurous, maybe without being married. Whatever they want it has to be their own choice for only then a happy life is ensured."

"We fully agree with you, master Manall. We can't tell the community which rules have become void, that's the decision of the Quelans themselves, but we can speak up and support your point of view." Luke said.

"Thank you, Luke. I certainly hope that the Harvest Council doesn't want to hear the Jedi Knights, but you have seen enough to give a clear account of what you have noticed without passing judgment."

"That's what we will do, master Manall, That's the only thing we can do. I told Filann that it's up to him to start the changes he want. I have seen that he absolutely is ready to be treated as responsible adult Quelan harvest man, and that also counts for his brother."

The entrance of the tent moved and Filann and Cemall entered. They both embraced their grandfather.

"Finished with your community work, guys. Good work. With the two of you also here, it's becoming crowded. Let's get to the main tent and see if I can get us a drink, before we have a further talk." Manall said.

"Grandfather, Cemall and I have a great idea," Filann said. "There is an abandoned house at the main plaza. We met with master Martan and master Nori Thai. They told us that you want them to make a list of all the abandoned house in Ribana. The house I'm talking about once belonged to an old Quelan man who passed away during our struggle to reach the western harbor. The house needs some repairs, but the old Quelan has maintain his house very well. It's in a good conditions. This tent isn't really a good accommodation for you, as our leader. Cemall and I can do the clean up and some minor repairs in no time. We can also provided with some first necessary furniture. I think that you can move in before the second group goes back to Tyr."

"You both have to do community work as has been decided by the Harvest Council, boys."

"We have talked to the governor and master Woldrin and they think that cleaning up that abandoned house for you is also a form of community work. Governor Mugin told me that it will also serve the changes you want to take shape, for if the harvest families see that the harvest men's leader already has found a place to live in Ribana they might be willing to follow that example. Ben, what's your opinion?"

Filann looked at Luke.

"Your grandfather should seriously consider what you and Cemall want to do. It is as governor Mugin said a good example to inspire other harvest families to find a place to live among the Quelans of Ribana and form one community over time."

"And now up to the main tent, otherwise the others will have swallowed all the available drinks." Manall said and pushed all his visitors out of the tent.

When the group entered the main harvester's tent Yarmod and Nori came walking over to them.

"Master Manall, you really should have look at drawing Lorann has sent us," Yarmod rejoiced elated. "Nori, show him. This is exactly what we need. It's really amazing what the boy can do. I've seen the first drawing he made, but this one is even more detailed."

Nori Thai put the foil sheet with the copy of the drawing, showing Ribana and the surrounding terrain from above. Filann and Cemall looked at it and turned to Yarmod and Nori.

"Did our brother made this?" Cemall asked, "When did he see this?"

"When your father with you and the others were walking through the wild lands to reach the western harbor and tell the governors and all the Quelans that the water has driven out the intruder who has occupied Ribana." Manall said. "Master Yarnick should take Lorann and me back to Tyr, but when we left the clearing where the Grannd Traveler had landed they took Lorann and me for a flight through the Palomintar System. We went in orbit around several of Palomintar's planets. Several times the Grannd Traveler had to enter hyperspace to reach the next planet of the tour. Before we landed on the western plains master Yarnick made a very low fly by above Ribana, where I saw all the deteriorated houses, but Lorann must have seen something different."

And this is Ribana from above which Lorann has seen," Manall said while he pointed at the drawing.

"It's very detailed, grandfather. It's amazing that Lorann could see so many details during that fly by." Filann said.

"Lorann showed Tama-Hin and me the first drawing he made." Yarmod said. "This one is much more detailed. Nori and I asked him to send us a copy of drawing, but he told us that it's in your house on Tyr, master Manall."

Manall nodded and looked at the drawing.

"So he made a new drawing," Liane said and looked at Luke.

"I guess, he did, Shaayla-Car, unless he had already copied the first drawing to the drawing board we gave him," Luke said, but Liane heard the puzzling tone in his voice.

"It must be a new drawing, Luke, otherwise he could have sent us a copy of the first one, but he explicitly told us he couldn't do so as he wasn't in possession of the first drawing. " Nori commented.

"When I look at it, it's like I'm in a space ship that is hovering at stationary spot above the town," Cemall said. "I didn't know that Lorann could do this. Did you, Filann?"

Filann nodded, but looked very thoughtful.

"Lorann has made a drawing of Ben's space ship. Ben has framed that drawing on the wall in the control room. Shaayla-Car showed it to me and I felt as if I could step into the drawing and walk up the ramp. It's unbelievable, Cemall. When we're back on Tyr we should have a look at the drawings he made for the Council of the Elders. He just listened to the Quelans of the first group and told him about what they saw when they arrived at Ribana and what they have done to clean up or repair their house."

Meanwhile Manall had asked one of the harvest men if he could bring his guests several drinks. When the harvest man came back he looked at the drawing of Ribana and pointed at a building near the foothills at some distance of Ribana.

"That was my house, Manall. I had a look at it after I arrived with the first group. From above you can see the contours of the building, but on the ground there's not much left. It's really a mess. Recently I have done some repairs in Ribana and I have noticed that there are houses, that once belonged to Quelan families, but I'm told that some families will never return, so I think those houses will always remember us what that intruder has done to Ribana. I saw a good house. It needed some repairs, but not as much as my own house near the foothills. It's even bigger than my old house. Manall, if you have no objection I want repair that house and bring my wife and kids to Ribana instead of living for month in a ruin."

Manall looked at the harvest man.

"You have my blessing, Wulan, but will your wife agree with your idea?"

Wulann grinned.

"I'll give her a choice; moving in into a fully repaired house, or living the next months or longer in a half demolished house. I know what she will chose, Manall. She is a very reasonable woman, even it would mean that her neighbors will be Quelans who always have lived in Ribana. My four boys will love it."

"Then do as you please, Wulann." Manall said in a neutral voice, but Luke and Liane sensed his approval showed much more.

"Master Wulann, which house do you want to restore for your family," Nori Thai asked, "Can you point at it on this drawing?"

Wulann looked more closely at the drawing on the table and pointed at a spot just outside the center.

"I think it's here, one of my new neighbors will be old Wogomnil whose wife grows excellent vegetables in her garden. My wife will certainly want to buy her surplus in exchange for the fabric my wife makes. It's also easier to exchange with a next door neighbor than doing that on market days. Enjoy your drinks, Manall, and your companions. I'm going to have a look at my new house."

They all watched him go. Nori Thai looked at Manall.

"He pointed at the right house, master Manall, the house next door is indeed the house master Wogomnil. Yarmod and I helped him and repaired a whole in the domed roof."

"If all of the harvest men will decided that easily, master Manall, your idea to let the harvest families lived among the Quelan might not meet much resistance." Yarmod said with a gleeful smile.

Cemall shook his head.

"Don't be too optimistic, master Martan. There are enough harvest families who want to stick to their traditional way of life." He said.

"They might, Cemall, but what Wulann pointed out is true. All the houses the harvest men used to live in are thoroughly destroyed. I have looked around while master Roshann and I were demolishing the harvest men's community building. Grandfather, what you wanted that master Roshann and I should do is almost finished. We have stripped the building, only the walls are standing. Maybe it's good idea to blow up those wall, like we have done on our water project with that high wall."

"Filann, you shouldn't want to put to much pressure on the changes your grandfather wants." Luke warned.

"Ben, if that old building is gone, no harvest man will ever will get the idea to rebuild it." Filann objected.

"Blowing up the building now, might trigger too much resistance, which might influence the decisions of the Harvest Council. Once the Council has decided there is a good reason to demolish the walls of the building too."

"Ben, I've heard from Chati that you once blew up that space weapon of the imperials. Did you always wait until some Council made a decision?" Cemall asked.

"The Death Star, you're referring to, had blown up Alderaan, the home planet of my sister. When we reached Yavin IV the Death Star had tracked the Millennium Falcon and was about to blow up the only base of the Rebel Alliance. It wasn't a matter of what had to be done or not, it was a mater of survival. I think that the old harvest community building doesn't serve your resistance's plan in the same way." Luke said looking very seriously at Cemall.

"You're right, Ben, that old building won't blow us out from the sky, but it would be good if we could get rid of it, for as long as those walls are standing there will be voices who want old times to return." Cemall said.

"You, boys, should voice to loudly what I want," Manall said. "It all still depends on what the Harvest Council will decide and if there will be an agreement on my plans. I know you approve what I want, but it's too early see my plans as the new reality. I will have a look at the house you want to clean up for me, and if I like it you also may go ahead with it, just like Wulann." Manall said and grabbed on of the drinks.

"I want to raise a toast to an old friend who is no longer with us, but who prevented this planet from losing a valuable future." Manall said and looked at Luke and Liane who nodded in agreement. The other looked puzzled, but didn't asked for an explanation. They all agreed with the old harvest man's words.